Estes Park Sports

Rockies' offense, Pomeranz again struggle in loss to Marlins

Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Drew Pomeranz wipes sweat from his forehead during the third inning against the Miami Marlins at Coors Field. More photos.
(Grant Hindsley, The Denver Post)

To understand Drew Pomeranz's night, don't bother looking at the linescore. Just check the lineup. Manny Corpas batted in the fifth inning.

Enough said. Now the question is: Have the Rockies had enough of Pomeranz to make a switch in the rotation? The left-hander worked hard over the last week to improve, even adding a slider in an act of admission and desperation, but showed no progress in a 3-1 loss Monday night to the Miami Marlins at Coors Field.

He has left the Rockies with little debate after a night when the offense provided no help, continuing a troubling stretch of inconsistency this month.

"We'll see. We have to have quality starts. We know Drew is capable of doing it," said Rockies manager Walt Weiss, when asked if the Rockies could exercise any more patience with Pomeranz. "We have to get him right."

Ideally, the Rockies would like to use Pomeranz to bridge another two weeks before Roy Oswalt's return from a hamstring injury. The problem is the message that sends in the interim. Even when the standings provide proof, it's hard for the Rockies to argue that they are contenders if Pomeranz starts again. The Rockies are 0-8 in games pitched by Pomeranz and Oswalt.

Pomeranz was pushed around by a Marlins team that entered Monday on the longest scoring skid since 1985.

"You know we're clean. We haven't scored a run in 37 innings," joked first baseman Logan Morrison, responding to a question about the 65-game suspension of Milwaukee's Ryan Braun.

The "Grapes of Wrath" drought ended with a faucet turn in the first inning. Giancarlo Stanton, the game's third batter, doubled in Ed Lucas, setting the stage for an abbreviated performance. He recorded 13 outs, gone after 78 pitches and three runs allowed that actually lowered his ERA to 8.10. The Rockies' relievers were spotless — even as it required Corpas to bat in the fifth to gulp eight outs — further illuminating Pomeranz's need for a possible minor-league tuneup.

"I think I know what I am doing wrong. It's about not walking guys and getting in better counts," said Pomeranz, who has more walks than innings pitched. "I am overthinking it."

A veteran scout watching the game said Pomeranz's release on his fastball was easily detected by the Marlins' hitters. That, coupled with his average offspeed pitches, including a curve that had more spin than bite, helped leave his career record at 4-14 in 27 career starts.

It also speaks to the sinkhole at the back of the rotation. The Rockies have navigated it times, but unless the offense perks up, the problem won't go away.

The Rockies are winless in Pomeranz's and Oswalt's games and 3-16 when adding in Jeff Francis' tenure this season. With recently acquired Armando Galarraga dealing with an injury and Francis pushed to the bullpen, there are few options in Triple-A. Colin McHugh is a possibility, or Francis could be reconsidered.

The Rockies have been exploring trade options, and recently scouted the White Sox's Jake Peavy.

Offensively, the Rockies were meek against Tom Koehler, whose only blemish was Troy Tulowitzki's fourth-inning home run. The right-hander preyed on Colorado's aggressiveness. The hitters were looking for fastballs early in counts and were kept off-balance in one of the more sobering losses of the season.

"It was quick. We didn't put it together, and it was already the seventh inning," outfielder Carlos Gonzalez said. "It's tough to take."

Rockies manager Walt Weiss moved Jhoulys Chacin's start to Tuesday to balance the rotation. Weiss didn't do Chacin any favors with his first matchup after the all-star break. At 20, Jose Fernandez was an all-star, revealing dominant stuff that suggests he will anchor the Marlins' rotation at least until he's arbitration-eligible. The 240-pound right-hander has held hitters to a .196 average. He has been rather ordinary on the road at times, however, compiling a 4.17 ERA. Chacin is scalding, owning a five-game winning streak with a 2.10 ERA over the span. He has quietly posted a career 3.64 ERA, lowest among Rockies' pitchers with at least 75 starts.